Korean War Origins, 1945-1950

The Japanese surrender to the Allies. Chosen Governor-General Abe Nobuyuki hands over power to Yeo Un-hyeong, who establishes the Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence.

Kim Il Sung and 66 other Korean officers arrive in Wonsan from Siberia and are demobilized by the Soviet Red Army. Kim makes his first public appearance less than a month later on October 14, 1945, at a rally in Pyongyang.

Jettisoning talks with the Soviet Union to move forward on Korean unification and independence, the United States places the Korean question before the United Nations.

The North Korean provisional government officially establishes the Korean People’s Army, which recruits 60,000 people by the end of 1948.

The UN Temporary Committee on Korea (UNTCOK) decides to hold elections only in South Korea because the Soviet Union, the occupation force in North Korea, does not recognize UNTCOK authority.

Under the auspice of the UN, general elections take place in South Korea, and Syngman Rhee becomes president-designate of the Republic of Korea. Many people recognize that the elections mean the end of achieving a unified government and boycott the elections.

Rhee official takes office on July 20, 1948.

The Republic of Korea is formally established in southern Korea.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is founded in northern Korea with Kim Il Sung as premier.

Kim Il Sung requests 200 million rubles of credit for economic development from the Soviet Union and expresses his desire for naval units.

Kim Il Sung requests permission to attack South Korea, citing the likelihood of an imminent South Korean attack. Mao Zedong states that China will not intervene militarily in the case of widespread civil war or American intervention on the Korean peninsula.

Kim Il Sung tells his Soviet advisers that North Korea can capture Seoul in a matter of days.

Kim Il Sung requests the return of Korean soldiers and equipment from China.

Stalin informs Kim Il Sung that he is willing to discuss Kim’s plans for the invasion of South Korea.

Kim Il Sung requests the purchase of weapons using the Soviet Union's loan of 70,700,000 rubles.

Kim Il Sung meets with Stalin three times and tells the Soviet leader that the United States, which recognizes Soviet and Chinese support for North Korea, will not risk war against the DPRK. Stalin tacitly approves Kim’s invasion plan under the condition that Kim receive Mao’s consent.

After a final meeting in Moscow, the Soviet Union approves Pyongyang’s battle plan, leaving the exact timing of the invasion to Kim Il Sung.

The Korean War begins with a pre-dawn artillery exchange on the Ongjin peninsula in Hwanghae province. The North Korean Korean People’s Army (KPA) invades South Korea.